Tar Heels Open With 2-1 Win At Michigan

Saturday, August 29

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2:00 PM

North Carolina

(1-0)

At Michigan (ACC-Big Ten Challenge)

(0-1)

North Carolina

Michigan

August 29, 2015 | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: UNC Athletic Communications

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – No. 2 North Carolina opened the 2015 field hockey season with a 2-1 victory Saturday at No. 14 Michigan in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. It marked the 13th year in a row that UNC has kicked off its season with a win.

“I'm delighted with the win,” UNC coach Karen Shelton said. “I don't think we could have asked for a better season opener. It was a great game with two teams competing hard.”

Both of UNC's goals came on corners. Freshman Malin Evert's first career goal was the gamewinner, in the 40th minute of play, when she deflected a shot by senior Nina Notman. Senior Casey Di Nardo added another for the Tar Heels with 20 minutes to play. Di Nardo's goal came on a rebound after Carolina's first shot was saved.

Michigan's goal also came on a corner, in the 55th minute. Leah Cardarelli scored, assisted by Lauren Thomas.

Neither team could manage a goal in the first half, despite seven shots for the Tar Heels and three for the host Wolverines. UNC outshot UM 14-7 on the day and led 6-5 in corners.

Junior Shannon Johnson played all 70 minutes in goal for the Tar Heels, making five saves. Michigan's Sam Swenson had eight saves before being pulled in favor of an additional field player with 1:58 remaining in the game.

Six Tar Heels saw their first action in Carolina uniforms. True freshmen Ashley Hoffman, Malin Evert, Morgan Goetz and Eva van't Hoog and redshirt freshman Halle Frain were in the starting lineup and another true freshman, Austyn Cuneo, came in off the bench.

“This win showed us a lot in terms of playing in a hostile environment – Michigan had a great home crowd and that experience was invaluable for us,” Shelton said. “Michigan came out hard and we had to adjust.

“I felt good about our group playing on the road – we showed composure at times in key situations. We played a lot of freshmen and got a look at the future of our program.”

UNC returns to action Sunday morning at 11:30 in its second ACC-Big Ten Challenge game. The Tar Heels meet No. 17 Iowa, a 2-1 winner over Wake Forest in overtime on Saturday.

No. 2 UNC 2, No. 14 Michigan 1

Scoring: UNC – Malin Evert (Nina Notman), 39:55; UNC – Casey Di Nardo (unassisted), 50:00; UM – Leah Cardarelli (Lauren Thomas), 54:20

Shots: UNC 14 (7/7), UM 7 (3/4)

Penalty corners: UNC 6 (2/4), UM 5 (1/4)

Saves: UNC 5 (Shannon Johnson, 70:00, 5 saves, 1 goal allowed); UM 8 (Sam Swenson, 68:02, 8 saves, 2 goals allowed; Team, 1:58, 0 saves, 0 goals allowed)

Records: UNC 1-0, UM 0-1

UNC lineup: Starters – Shannon Johnson, Lauren Moyer, Halle Frain, Emily Wold, Nina Notman, Ashley Hoffman, Malin Evert, Julia Young, Morgan Goetz, Casey Di Nardo, Eva van't Hoog Substitutes – Gab Major, Austyn Cuneo